Denny Hamlin Starts Another Feud With Rival Drivers As Dale Earnhardt Jr. Watches Over

When NASCAR announced its switch from Phoenix to Homestead-Miami for the Championship finale, it wasn’t just a simple post. The Back to the Future themed video had two drivers who had shared one of the biggest rivalries in the sport, Kyle Busch and Brad Keselowski, and brought them together for a massive moment in the sport.

That’s what these moments do, right? They bring together the community. However, when the newest season of NASCAR: Full Speed dropped, there was one driver who looked like he was about to make some enemies. It’s none other than Denny Hamlin.

It all started when the new season of Full Speed came out. As one X user was catching up on both seasons of the show, they wrote on X, “I was today years old when I learned that @KyleBuschand @Blaneyactually have the same middle name.” It was a nod to Gianna Tulio, Blaney’s wife, popularising a nickname for the driver in the first season. What is the middle name they share? 

Fans might remember Rowdy being called KFB, which stands for ‘Kyle F—— Busch’. Blaney later adopted the middle name, going by ‘Ryan F—— Blaney’. When the post on X pointed it out, Denny Hamlin immediately sent a reply. “They are both ripping off an old slogan that was around way before them..” Was Hamlin referring to himself? Blaney might not have thought so, but he wasn’t missing a chance.

Without missing a beat, Blaney said, “I thought it was FDH not DFH?” The FDH was a cheeky nod to Hamlin riling up the NASCAR community, what with the #11 Against the World Flag and ‘I beat your favorite driver’ moments. In the meantime, there was one NASCAR figure just watching the drama unfold in the background: Dale Jr. Junior’s someone who gets these rivalries. He shared one with Matt Kenseth over the years, but that hasn’t soured their relationship. “It’s just been a great friendship even today this year he rides and I ride, so we cycle a lot on Fridays together and he jokes all the time; when we found out about the news about Amy’s pregnancy he joked that he was angry he didn’t get a text from me before he read about it on social media.” 

As for Hamlin and Blaney, this isn’t the first time the JGR driver has discussed his Penske counterpart. During the Wurth 400, Blaney had the chance for a solid finish with 18 laps to go, except he chose not to take the front row. Hamlin was quite critical of the move, going on to say, “It was really surprised that Blaney did not take the front row… I couldn’t believe that call. He took bottom behind Larson… how are you going to pass him? I didn’t understand that call at all. And you heard Blaney say to himself after the race, ‘What a dumb call’, the one time he doesn’t take the top, the top takes the lead. But dude, 15-20 laps to go and you don’t take the front row? Not ony did Blaney not take the front row but he didn’t even do a good job of pushing Larson on that restart so Larson lost that lead and Blaney lost position.” 

Blaney, for what it was worth, recognised his mistakes. “The one time I didn’t pick the outside (McDowell) got the lead and then I couldn’t get it back. Just driver making dumb decisions and not doing his job. I appreciate the team. The 12 car was a fast car today. I just can’t do anything right currently. Hopefully it will work itself out.” 

With 4 DNFs so far and no win in the season so far, things aren’t looking too good for Ryan Blaney. Up next is Kansas, a track that hasn’t gone too well for Blaney. With an average finish of 10.6 and his last win coming nearly a decade ago at the track, Blaney has his work cut out for the upcoming AdventHealth 400. He will be looking to get rid of the only Penske drivers without a Cup win this season.

While Blaney and Hamlin tangle online, let’s see what Kevin Harvick has to say about a strange incident Hamlin faced.

Harvick lays down his verdict on Hamlin’s fire

The Wurth 400 had one incredible moment on the track. On Lap 75, fans found a strange sight on the track. Hamlin’s car was on fire! It was a scene right out of Hollywood. Hamlin was, thankfully, unharmed, as he later explained. “You can feel the heat coming from wherever it’s coming from, but the smoke is the one thing that I don’t want to get in my lungs and stuff like that. You got the safety vehicle people, they’re spraying it with all the substance and whatnot. It’s just that, but I was able to get out fine.”

Kevin Harvick attempted to explain it on his podcast, going on to say, “The flames were really strange, the way that they were almost like it was a fuel fire. It sounds like they broke a valve spring, dropped a valve, and then it exploded. I think this was the third race on that particular engine, based upon the feedback I got from Larry [McReynolds].” 

“It’s unfortunate, and I think when you look at this 11 car, they’re in good shape. I think that the speed and the things that they have in this car are good. I think that he and Chris Gayle have gotten to a point of being able to know that they can win,” Harvick added.

Now, all eyes are on the AdventHealth 400, as Hamlin will look to resume his winning run, having already taken two races this season.